Ross Cronjé will start at scrumhalf for the Lions against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann opted for Cronjé instead of Faf de Klerk who shifts to the bench.

In other changes, Willie Wepener is replaced by Robbie Coetzee at No 2, while flank Willie Britz is relegated to the bench in favour of Jaco Kriel.

In the backline, wing Anthony Volmink, who earns his first Super Rugby start of the year, and fullback Chrysander Botha complete the starting XV, after Deon van Rensburg and Andries Coetzee were both ruled out with injury.

Lions – 15 Chrysander Botha,  14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 MB Lusaseni, 20 Willie Britz, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 JW Jonker.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix